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Committee approves reserving build slots for Department of Public Works vehicles amid long lead times
Summary
The Finance Committee authorized the Department of Public Works to secure build slots for equipment that will be produced in 2026, reflecting nationwide supply-chain constraints and a rising cost of replacing aging fleet vehicles.
The Green Bay Finance Committee on Jan. 14 approved a request to reserve future build slots for Department of Public Works vehicles to secure production capacity for 2026 and beyond, a practice committee members have already used for fire and police vehicles.
Staff explained that lead times for trucks and specialized equipment are driven by engine and transmission manufacturer allocations; those allocations are being committed now for 2026 production, and departments that do not secure build slots now risk delivery delays until 2027 or later. "If you don't get your name on one of those build slots a year out, you won't get a truck till '27 if you ask for one at the beginning of '26," the fleet manager (Nathan, first name given) told the committee.
Committee members discussed the broader capital planning implications. Several alderpersons said the city’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and multi-year budgeting need closer attention because departments are increasingly asked to place orders earlier and hold borrowed funds in reserve while production slots are secured. Finance staff said the city is tracking obligated orders on a spreadsheet and that some previously authorized borrowing had already obligated funds for future equipment purchases.
Department of Public Works staff provided a detailed explanation of fleet age and repair burdens. The DPW director said that trucks are often run beyond their recommended service life and that maintenance and repair costs have risen sharply; for some asset categories average age now exceeds industry-recommended service life. The DPW director described creative in-house workarounds to extend vehicle service life, including removing and replacing truck bodies and salvaging retired bodies for other uses.
After discussion, a committee member moved to approve reserving build slots and the measure passed by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.
Committee members asked staff to continue reporting on multi-year CIP planning so council can assess borrowing and prioritization across departments before obligations accumulate further.
